महाभारतम् — ३.२६०

॥ अथ ३.२६० ॥

मार्कण्डेय उवाच ।

ततो ब्रह्मर्षयः सिद्धा देवराजर्षयस्तथा ।
हव्यवाहं पुरस्कृत्य ब्रह्माणं शरणं गताः ॥

M N Dutt Markandeya said : Thereupon the Brahmarshis, the Siddhas, the celestials, saints, with Havyavaha as their spokesman, sought the protection of Brahma.

अग्निरुवाच ।

३.२६०.२

यः स विश्रवसः पुत्रो दशग्रीवो महाबलः ।
अवध्यो वरदानेन कृतो भगवता पुरा ॥

M N Dutt The highly powerful, ten-headed son of Vishrava cannot be slain for the boon, that was given him before by you.

३.२६०.३

स बाधते प्रजाः सर्वा विप्रकारैर्महाबलः ।
ततो नस्त्रातु भगवन्नान्यस्त्राता हि विद्यते ॥

M N Dutt The mighty powerful one is oppressing the creatures in every possible way; therefore save us, O lord; there is none else except you to save us.

ब्रह्मोवाच ।

३.२६०.४

न स देवासुरैः शक्यो युद्धे जेतुं विभावसो ।
विहितं तत्र यत्कार्यमभितस्तस्य निग्रहे ॥

M N Dutt Brahma said: O Vibhavasu, he cannot slain in battle either by the celestials or the Asuras I have already ordained what is necessary for this purpose. But his death is near.

३.२६०.५

तदर्थमवतीर्णोऽसौ मन्नियोगाच्चतुर्भुजः ।
विष्णुः प्रहरतां श्रेष्ठः स कर्मैतत्करिष्यति ॥

M N Dutt For this purpose and at my command the four-headed god has already been incarnated; Vishnu, the foremost of repressors, shall accomplish this.

मार्कण्डेय उवाच ।

३.२६०.६

पितामहस्ततस्तेषां संनिधौ वाक्यमब्रवीत् ।
सर्वैर्देवगणैः सार्धं संभवध्वं महीतले ॥

M N Dutt In their presence then the Grandfather said to Shakra, “You also take your birth on earth, with all these celestials.

३.२६०.७

विष्णोः सहायानृक्षीषु वानरीषु च सर्वशः ।
जनयध्वं सुतान्वीरान्कामरूपबलान्वितान् ॥

M N Dutt You all beget on monkeys and bears heroic and powerful sons capable of assuring forms at will to help Vishnu."

३.२६०.८

ततो भागानुभागेन देवगन्धर्वदानवाः ।
अवतर्तुं महीं सर्वे रञ्जयामासुरञ्जसा ॥

M N Dutt At this, the celestial, the Gandharvas and the Danavas quickly assembled to consult as to how they should he born on earth according to their respective parts.

३.२६०.९

तेषां समक्षं गन्धर्वीं दुन्दुभीं नाम नामतः ।
शशास वरदो देवो देवकार्यार्थसिद्धये ॥

M N Dutt In their presence the Deity, conferring boons commanded a Gandharvi named Dundubhi saying, “Go there for accomplishing this object.”

३.२६०.१०

पितामहवचः श्रुत्वा गन्धर्वी दुन्दुभी ततः ।
मन्थरा मानुषे लोके कुब्जा समभवत्तदा ॥

M N Dutt Hearing the words of Grandfather, Dundubhi became born on earth as the haunchbacked Manthara.

३.२६०.११

शक्रप्रभृतयश्चैव सर्वे ते सुरसत्तमाः ।
वानरर्क्षवरस्त्रीषु जनयामासुरात्मजान् ।
तेऽन्ववर्तन्पितॄन्सर्वे यशसा च बलेन च ॥

M N Dutt And all the leading celestial, Shakra and others begot offspring on the wives of the foremost of monkeys and bears.

३.२६०.१२

भेत्तारो गिरिशृङ्गाणां शालतालशिलायुधाः ।
वज्रसंहननाः सर्वे सर्वे चौघबलास्तथा ॥

३.२६०.१३

कामवीर्यधराश्चैव सर्वे युद्धविशारदाः ।
नागायुतसमप्राणा वायुवेगसमा जवे ।
यत्रेच्छकनिवासाश्च केचिदत्र वनौकसः ॥

M N Dutt They were gifted with the strength of an Ayuta elephants and were like the wind in speed; some of them lived wherever they liked; others lived in woods.

३.२६०.१४

एवं विधाय तत्सर्वं भगवाल्लोकभावनः ।
मन्थरां बोधयामास यद्यत्कार्यं यथा यथा ॥

M N Dutt Having ordained all this the worshipful creator instructed Manthara as to what she should do.

३.२६०.१५

सा तद्वचनमाज्ञाय तथा चक्रे मनोजवा ।
इतश्चेतश्च गच्छन्ती वैरसंधुक्षणे रता ॥

M N Dutt Understanding his words she, quick as thought, did accordingly. She moved about here and there fanning quarrels.

॥ इति ३.२६० ॥